Mutharika, shadow first lady fall out over ‘love portion’

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate in the next Tuesday’s tripartite elections, Peter Mutharika, may not have a wife any sooner than expected because he has fallen out with his fiancée, former member of parliament from Balaka North Gertrude Hendrina Maseko.

Maseko, who recently was on the political podium campaigning for her return to Parliament as well as asking people in her area to vote for Mutharika “so she becomes the First Lady”, is alleged to have attempted apply some traditional charms (love portion) in Mutharika’s food when the latter found out.

A sous-chef (cook) for Mutharika, who claims he has been refusing Maseko’s repeated attempts to apply the traditional love medicine in the food, is said to have finally revealed to Mutharika the fiancée’s “evil intentions”.

According to the cook, who said he did not want to have his name printed, Mutharika is said to have been extremely angry with the Maseko and ordered security personnel to “kick her out of his residence”.

“It happened on May 12,” explained the cook, adding that it was at Mutharika’s Nyambadwe Residence in Blantyre.

Mutharika and Maseko: Tension

Maseko described the matter “private” and immediately hanged up the phone. Mutharika’s personal aide, Ben Phiri also refused to be drawn into “people’s private affairs”.

The DPP leader has previously been linked to women activist Seodi White, businesswoman Anne Fletcher and former Parliamentarian Anna Kachikho.

Mutharika’s campaign for the country’s presidency has significantly been marred by allegations of his suspicious sex orientation. Some have speculated that he is gay, which he recently denied.

“I am not gay, I have never been gay and will never be gay,” Mutharika has been quoted as saying in the media, adding that he will marry again if “God would consent to his plans”.

In recent newspaper advertisements, Mutharika claims he is a widower and a father of three children. Speculation is rife that the children landed in Lilongwe on Thursday to support their father’s presidential bid.

They have never been to Malawi and failed to attend the funeral of their uncle, late President Bingu wa Mutharika. This, critics said, was a clear indication that Mutharika was a man with no family and plainly gay.